波乗り兎

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Title:

波乗り兎 (naminori usagi)
wave-riding rabbit

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This top depicts a rabbit riding a wave, which is said to be an auspicious motif that acts as a charm for protection against fire. This is also an image connected to well-known folklore borrowed from Chinese mythology of a rabbit spirit who lives on the moon and mixes the elixir of immortality. The rabbit itself is seen as a sign of prosperity and longevity, frequently depicted in art with the moon, ocean waves, or both.